Stories from Tuesday, July 30, 2002

As a longtime employee of the Highway Department, there are some things I think the public should know before voting on the tax increase. The state legislators said no raises for state employees. But the Highway Department, as they have always done, has ignored this. ...

CHARLESTON - The Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston - highly anticipated in this area as a new opportunity for jobs - is now looking to fill nearly 100 positions. "We're getting ready to gear up and hire 94 staff," said Donna Y. McCondichie, SECC superintendent...

SIKESTON - It's not a religion or an intense workout. It's about listening to your body and getting in tune with yourself. Yoga's popularity has seemingly exploded in recent years, but it's by no means new to the health scene. The holistic approach is actually believed to have been developed in India some 5,000 years ago...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Department of Public Safety has scheduled a press conference for 3 p.m. today for an update on the investigation of the murder of Steven White. White, 21, was found shot and killed at his residence at 315 E. Murray Lane on July 16. A full report will appear in the Wednesday edition of the Standard Democrat...

SIKESTON -- Nunnelee Funeral Chapel took third place in the Musial League this year, finishing with a record of 5-9. The squad lost four games by one run, two of which were to Musial League powerhouse Standard Democrat. "It was kind of a roller coaster season," said Nunnelee head coach David Freed. "We started the year off 3-0, but it was kind of downhill from there. Overall, it was a pretty decent season. Our record didn't show how good our team really was."...

HOUSTON, Texas - Memorial services for Ned W. Tanner Jr., 49, formerly of Sikeston, who died July 20, 2002, in Cherokee Village, Ark., are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Aug. 2 at Forest Park the Woodlands Funeral Home, 18000 Interstate 45 South, Conroe, Texas...

PORTAGEVILLE -- Charles Chamberlain, 73, died July 28, 2002, at the Portageville Nursing Center. Born Nov. 13, 1928, in Qulin, son of the late Fred and Edna Weedman Chamberlain, he was a member of the First Baptist Church in Portageville. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he was a truck driver for the Gremore Lime Company for many years before retiring...

SIKESTON -- Robert Hansberry Mather, 68, died at 7:15 a.m. July 29, 2002, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born Sept. 8, 1933, in Norfolk, Va., son of the late Paul Lukor and Mary Hansberry Mather, he had been a resident of Sikeston since 1971 and retired as a purchasing manager for Noranda Aluminum. A graduate of American University in Washington, D.C., he served as a U.S. Army corporal in the Korean War and was a member of the Catholic Church...

EAST PRAIRIE - Dovie Bennett, 91, died at 4 a.m. July 30, 2002, at her daughter's home. Arrangements are incomplete at Shelby Funeral Home.

DEXTER - Pallbearers at services conducted today at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home for Thomas Gilbert Lee, 98, who died July 27, 2002, were: Marshal Lee, Vance Lee, Wendell Lee, Gary Lee, Don Firle, Steve Lee and Randy Lee.

EAST PRAIRIE - Nellie Pearl Brooks Sloan, 88, died at 7:30 a.m. July 30, 2002, at Hunter Acres Caring Center in Sikeston. Survivors include a niece, Stella "Kitty" Presson of Charleston. Arrangements are incomplete at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston...

NEW MADRID - Thomas Lee "Tom" Staffey Sr., 64, died July 29, 2002, at his home. Born June 9, 1938, in New Madrid, son of the late William and Luven Woods Staffey Sr., he was a riverboat tanker man and was of the Baptist belief. In 1959 he married Velma Bizzell who survives of the home...

EAST PRAIRIE - Irene M. Laughlin, 92, died at 12:50 p.m. July 28, 2002, at the East Prairie Nursing Center. Born Feb. 5, 1910, near East Prairie, daughter of the late George Andrew and Ella Manda Gore Morgan, she was a lifelong resident of Mississippi County. She was a member of the First Christian Church in East Prairie...

SIKESTON - Clint and Brenda Strain of Chanute, Kan., and Henry and Pamela Dirnberger of Benton have announced the engagement of their children, Jennifer LeAnn Strain to Kevin Matthew Dirnberger of Sikeston. A 1997 graduate of Chanute High School, Strain graduated in 2001 from Maryville University and is a pediatric physical therapist at the Kenny Rogers Children's Center...

A rash of kidnappings and murders of children has the nation understandably alarmed. But perhaps it really hit home when the latest tragedy struck near St. Louis. It just illustrates that these kinds of sick acts can occur anywhere at any time. And that should be enough to make any parent extremely cautious...

EAST PRAIRIE - Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Scruggs have announced the engagement of their daughter, Abby, to Brandon Williams of Murray, Ky., son of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Williams of Jonesboro, Ark. The future bride will graduate in May 2003 from Murray State (Ky.) University, where she is majoring in marketing. She is employed by Food Giant in Murray...

Don't some of these people know that these old field roads out in the country are not for hiding in the garden when they run irrigation. If they want to get stuck, that's a good way for them to get caught. All in good times under Clinton and Gore is coming to a head now. ...

CHARLESTON - For the second time in the five-year history of the annual Invitational Golf Tournament here, a local player was awarded championship honors. Heinie Hequembourg with a score of 96 for the 27 holes of model play won the trophy. His score was 33-33-30...